(CNN)—This year, Congress welcomed the first Buddhist senator and first Hindu elected to either chamber of Congress, and the Pew Forum noted that this “gradual increase in religious diversity … mirrors trends in the country as a whole.”

There is, however, one newly elected “none” — but she seems to think "atheist" is a dirty word.

Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, was sworn in a few days ago without a Bible, and she is the first member of Congress to openly describe her religious affiliation as “none.” Although 10 other members don’t specify a religious affiliation — up from six members in the previous Congress — Sinema is the only to officially declare “none.”

But there’s a slight issue: Sinema doesn’t actually appears to be a nonbeliever. In response to news stories identifying her as an atheist, her campaign released this statement shortly after her victory: “(Rep. Sinema) believes the terms non-theist, atheist or non-believer are not befitting of her life’s work or personal character.”

As a nontheist, atheist and nonbeliever (take your pick), I find this statement deeply problematic.

It is perfectly fine, of course, if Sinema isn’t a nontheist, and it is understandable that she would want to clarify misinformation about her personal beliefs. But to say that these terms are “not befitting of her life’s work or personal character” is offensive because it implies there is something unbefitting about the lives and characters of atheists or nonbelievers.

Try substituting a religious group of your choice in place of atheist if you don’t agree: “[Rep. Sinema] believes the term Muslim is not befitting of her life’s work or personal character.” Does that sound right? It shouldn’t.

Of course, many do view Muslims as unfit for political office. In that respect, political opponents have regularly misidentified President Obama as a Muslim. Many have defended the president from such attacks by noting that Obama is a Christian.

The correct answer is: He is not a Muslim; he’s a Christian. He’s always been a Christian. But the really right answer is, ‘What if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country?’ The answer is ‘No, that’s not America.’ Is there something wrong with some 7-year-old Muslim-American kid believing that he or she could be president?

Just as Muslim is used as a political smear, politicians seem to avoid "atheist."

This is probably because the American electorate views both Muslims and atheists more unfavorably than they do other groups: According to a Gallup poll released in June, only 58% of Americans would vote for a “generally well-qualified” Muslim candidate, and only 54% would vote for an atheist. (This is the first time that number has been above 50% for an atheist candidate.) By contrast, 91% would vote for a Jewish candidate, 94% for a Catholic and 80% for a Mormon.

Prominent individuals like Powell rightfully decry anti-Muslim fear-mongering in politics, but few speak out against those who wield accusations of atheism as a political weapon.

Whether people don’t see it or simply aren’t bothered isn’t clear, but it remains a problem.

I respect Sinema’s right to self-identify as she chooses, and I don’t wish to speculate about her religious beliefs. But while I celebrate that she is comfortable enough to openly identify as bisexual, I find her response to being labeled an atheist troubling.

Why not instead say that she’s not an atheist, but so what if she was?

The 113th Congress is rich with diversity. As an interfaith activist, I am glad to see the religious composition of Congress more closely reflect the diversity of America. As a queer person, I’m glad that LGBT Americans are seeing greater representation in Washington.

But as a proud atheist and humanist, I’m disheartened that the only member of Congress who openly identifies as nonreligious has forcefully distanced herself from atheism in a way that puts down those of us who do not believe in God.

We are Americans of good character, too.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Chris Stedman.

By my count you were able to string together at most 4 words before saying something that was completely baseless and untrue.

January 8, 2013 at 11:44 pm |

Spiffy

As an atheist, I really hate being associated with all these "new atheism" types. I don't care what the hell you believe in, and I am secure enough in my own beliefs to not feel the need to insult and degrade others based on their religious beliefs, or even their beliefs themselves.

January 8, 2013 at 11:12 pm |

BelladonnaCove

Well at least Miss Sinema isn't muslim.....

January 8, 2013 at 11:12 pm |

chicadow

My biggest question on religion and politics... Who cares?! If you live like Ghandi but call yourself a Satanist, so what. Your beliefs are your business and labels are meaningless, especially when everyone has a different stereotype for each one. Last thought, why are people always"proud" to belong to a group. If you are a proud gun owner, are you proud that you passed the background check? If you are proud to be a Christian is it because you weren't late for your baptism? To me pride should stem from an accomplishment. Proud you climbed Everest, got a degree... But hey if you feel it, go with it I guess.

January 8, 2013 at 11:11 pm |

blake

Sorry, but it is hard to empathize with Ms. Sinema. At least half of Congress is made of folks who may be professing Christians, but for all practical purposes, they are secular humanists. This is not limited to, but includes most of the members of Congress in the Democratic party. There is nothing Christian in their worldview, their beliefs, or their behavior. They live and speak each day as if God does not exist. They profess to be Christian because it is politically expedient.

January 8, 2013 at 11:10 pm |

akmac65

You mean like so-called "conservatives" trumpet their "christianity" to the heavens (or at least to Christian voters) in order to get votes? Remember that Jesus advised that prayer is a private matter, not a public display.

January 8, 2013 at 11:18 pm |

Mick

I have no doubt whatsoever that there's no god. But I'm not crazy about the word "atheist" because not everyone is aware that it simply means "one who doesn't believe in the existence of God". People are like "Well, Joe Blow is an atheist and he believes (fill in the blank), so you must believe the same thing. So when asked my religion, I just say "none". Now my only problem is with people assuming I fit into that ridiculous "spiritual but not religious" category!

January 8, 2013 at 11:10 pm |

John P. Tarver

Religion is the cure for normal human psycosis. An atheist is by definition psycotic.

January 8, 2013 at 11:09 pm |

tony

Your use of longer words is good. Misunderstanding them isn't.

January 8, 2013 at 11:10 pm |

Observer

John P. Tarver,

You really shouldn't try to use words that you have no clue what they are.

Two misspelled words that were critical to your comment. Well done.

January 8, 2013 at 11:11 pm |

John P. Tarver

In the English language, only those words appearing in the King James Bible have a correct spelling. Prior to the KJV English was a free form of communication, with no spelling rules; but thanks for playing.

January 8, 2013 at 11:16 pm |

adex

These are just words strung together. There is no argument here. There is no evidence here. There isn't even an explanation. You are psychotic if you don't believe in god? How does one come up with these terrible ideas? All of the anti-atheist arguments are just terrible and all could be batted down with the slightest bit of logic.

i'm an atheist, and have many friends on both sides. you don't an ancient book to tell you what morals & values are. even before you become an adult, these things are instilled in you...I believe it's in good upbringing. my parents aren't religious, and left it up to me make my own decisions. for that, i'm profoundly grateful. if you can't decide early on that respect, compassion & love for you fellow man are genuine good guidelines to live by...then you probably are the people who instructions for using shampoo were written for. the burden of proof is not on us atheists, but on all believers in any deity. would someone's fervent belief in bigfoot hold up in court, no matter how many claim to have seen...yet have no proof to offer. faith is the absence of logic & reason, it requires none. I don't begrudge anyone whatever they require to get through their daily lives. and in times like these, I like to refer to this gentleman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-RGN21TSGk

January 8, 2013 at 11:09 pm |

Mulehead

Carlin was so great – miss him. Also miss Hitch – here is his revised list of the ten commandments. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9weXGtCk7c

I can see why politically she would wise not to call herself an atheist. In politics it's all about offending the smallest number of voters while still getting elected or reelected,,,, truth is an abstract subject for them!

January 8, 2013 at 11:08 pm |

The Flamingo Kid

Atheists are evil.

January 8, 2013 at 11:07 pm |

Observer

What's wrong with evil? The Bible brags that God does evil.

January 8, 2013 at 11:09 pm |

tony

Yup. We have devoted our lives to seeking you out to destroy you, whoever you are.

January 8, 2013 at 11:09 pm |

Mick

Oh yeah, we bad.

January 8, 2013 at 11:11 pm |

John the electrician

"Evil is as evil does" pal.

January 8, 2013 at 11:16 pm |

akmac65

"Believers" who judge others are also evil in the eyes of their proclaimed savior.

January 8, 2013 at 11:22 pm |

John

If you believe nothing made everything, then you are following a religion that has "nothing" as your god creating everything.

January 8, 2013 at 11:07 pm |

Stefan

If you believe that god created everything...and nothing created god...then you too believe that nothing created everything. We just remove the unnecessary middle man.

January 8, 2013 at 11:13 pm |

John the electrician

Man created God. So where does that leave you now?

January 8, 2013 at 11:17 pm |

John

Stefan, it looks like you were honest in claiming atheists believe "nothing" is their god creating everything. Fine. But God claimed he's always been there, he didn't say "nothing" formed him. Anyway, you appear to be admitting that atheists give credit to a god called "nothing" as the creator of everything... and that is a religion.

January 8, 2013 at 11:28 pm |

Stefan

I don't really care if you want to call my beliefs a religion or not, that is a debate that doesn't interest me...but I would like to once again specify to you that just how you can believe that god has simply always existed, and does not have any creator or time of creation; I have a similar belief about the universe. It has always existed, their is no creator and no time of creation. The concepts are very similar in that regard, we just apply them to different things. Once again, I just remove the middle man of god, as stated above.

You said, "Freedom of Religion is the subject of the First Amendment, not freedom from religion."
It's impossible to have freedom of religion without freedom from it. For anyone to be free to pick the religion they want, they first have to be free from all others.

Here is the first amendment:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the freeexercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the peoplepeaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." (emphasis mine).

Oh John, you are not exactly an intellectual heavyweight are you. You don't have to think very long and very hard to understand that you can't have freedom of religion without freedom from religion. What would it look like exactly, freedom of religion but no freedom from religion? The government ensuring that catholics, muslims and jews are all treated equally under the law, but throwing non-believers in jail for non-belief? That wouldn't really work would it? Such a society would never have freedom of religion – the same intolerance that throws the atheist in jail for non-believe would eventually get around to other minorities (by the way, that is the same intolerance I sense in you).

You are not really thinking, slogans just pop into your mind now and again, and you type them out.

January 8, 2013 at 11:20 pm |

John P. Tarver

electrician- The preamble of the Constiutution is not part of the Law, but thanks for playing.

January 8, 2013 at 11:22 pm |

Athy

John, it's separation, not seperation. And check your spelling of government. Geez, how do you expect to impress anyone with fifth-grade writing?

January 8, 2013 at 11:26 pm |

akmac65

Freedom of religion ("separation of church and state") also presumes that religion is prohibited from hijacking the government. The so-called "religious right" is making an attempt to force their beliefs into law, rather like the extremists in other religions in other countries.

January 8, 2013 at 11:27 pm |

Athy

It's constitution. And don't capitalize law. Thanks or playing.

January 8, 2013 at 11:28 pm |

menoc

I AM ATHEIST.

January 8, 2013 at 11:05 pm |

chuck

That ISN'T what we WANT from our elected officials. RELIGION DOESN'T MATTER SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. Stop wasting our time.

January 8, 2013 at 11:05 pm |

NTreeN

Drugs are for people who can't handle reality.

January 8, 2013 at 11:04 pm |

John P. Tarver

Atheists are divergent from modern science and I don't blame the Congress woman for not wanting to be associated with today's flat earthers.

January 8, 2013 at 11:04 pm |

tony

Funny. Blaming atheists for evil has been your mantra up 'til now.

January 8, 2013 at 11:08 pm |

John P. Tarver

Atheists tend to be mass murdering evolutionists, like Hitler for instance.

January 8, 2013 at 11:11 pm |

Observer

John P. Tarver,

Do you do ANY research at all? Hitler was raised as a Catholic and frequently talked of his belief in God. Ooops

January 8, 2013 at 11:13 pm |

Doug

Excuse me? Hitler was a Catholic. Gott Mit Uns was on the belt buckle of every Nazi soldier. I don't think an atheist would do that.

January 8, 2013 at 11:14 pm |

John P. Tarver

Hitler was an evolutionist who believed he could recreate the English honey bee evolution outcome by killing off certain tribes of humans.

January 8, 2013 at 11:19 pm |

John the electrician

What evil have you done in the name of your religion?

January 8, 2013 at 11:22 pm |

Michael

Keep religious beliefs to yourself, practice what you like, how you like, as long as it doesn't affect me in a negative way and I'll do the same for you. Religion has no place in government, it's place is in your church, mosque, synagogue or wherever else it is that you practice your beliefs. And by the way, why are you so concerned with how others pray and if they make it to some place that you may believe in and they may not?

January 8, 2013 at 11:03 pm |

Anne S

ionteresting that you want no discourse discussing belliefs – does this mean you have none of your own, or that you find the ideas of others, particularly those with whom you don't agree, to be such an anathema or so threatening that they cannot even be discussed?

January 8, 2013 at 11:16 pm |

Shawn Irwin

Religion is for people who can't handle reality.

January 8, 2013 at 11:03 pm |

cm

Believing in something enhances one's existence. You offer nothing to this thing called life with your views. Believers are happier – look in up.

January 8, 2013 at 11:08 pm |

Faith-Isn't-a-Preacher

Especially for coping with the living Hells that some create for us. When we cannot trust other humans, what's left other than war or zoning into something that calms us.

The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.